Earthquake is done!

Just finished typing "END."  I have editing to do on the second half, a read-though, and then beta reading. I'm waiting on the cover still, but... The book is done. It'll be published as soon as is humanly possible. Thank you again for your patience. My fans are the best!!

Cover

I have good news. Maybe not what you're hoping for, but good nonetheless.

I am in a huge burst of creativity right now. I've taken a short break from the neverending (I hope) flow of words to update you. I'm a few thousand words from the end of Earthquake.  Once that's done, I will proofread it and get it to my beta readers. I always edit as I go, but proofreading helps me find most of the inconsistencies and cringeworthy errors.

What's exciting? I'm getting a professionally done cover! My ambitions for Earthquake's cover were way beyond my skill level.  I found a great person who has done some lovely covers for not a ton of money. If I like what she does, I'll get Wildfire's cover updated as well. I just submitted my request to her, so I should be hearing back soon.

Things are moving!! Yay!

Then I can concentrate on Rarity, Lora Fletcher #2! I know the majority of you are here for her, and I appreciate your patience as I get out my other stuff.

Beta readers for Earthquake

I'm in the final chapters of Earthquake.  I need two volunteers to beta read for me, as my usual beta readers are pretty busy with other authors. First come, first serve.

What is a beta reader? Well, a beta reader reads a book before it is published and looks for errors and inconsistencies.  They typically take notes, either in a second document or using track changes (insert comment function). Prior to being sent to beta readers, a work should have been proofread for spelling, grammar, and usage errors, but since we're not perfect, some still slip by.  Which reminds me, I need to upload a corrected version of Common.

Anyway, a beta reader checks for plot inconsistencies, i.e. a guy is named Steve in the first 6 and last 6 chapters, but his name somehow changes to Lance for the middle 12 chapters... I've seen this and it drove me freaking nuts. Or if the name of a place suddenly changes. Or if someone's physical description is not the same throughout.

Does the story make sense? Are there unnecessary paragraphs or chapters that add nothing to the story? Are there areas that need more detail?

Most importantly, beta readers are brutally honest. If it's there, they will not gloss over it. That being said, I need harsh beta readers. I need to know what has to be changed or cut. I want everyone to enjoy the books they wait so long for. Will I make every change? No.  There's stuff in Wildfire that my beta readers hated because I felt it was integral to the story.  My most recent review on Goodreads is scathing, mostly because of the stuff I left in. But I digress. I also expect a two week or less turn-around time.

As beta readers, you get first crack at Earthquake for free.  You can still buy the final version or read it on KU if you want, since it will be slightly different.  But if you like to read, have a critical eye, and want to save your $2.99 (or other amount of non-US funds to purchase the book), please contact me ASAP.  Hopefully this will keep me on track to finish, too.

Thanks!!!

Influenza

She's a bitch. I've been down for the count for several days and anticipate several more. Stay well!!

And happy new year! ☺

You haven't lived until...

...you've taken a laptop into a PumpItUp! or SkyZone or other indoor playground and tried to write a novel.  The screaming, oh the screaming, and the random ball flying precariously close to the laptop.  Goodness. And yes, indoor playgrounds are a thing.  At least they are in AZ where it gets to 120F in the summer (45C or so for everywhere other than the US). It's 70F right now (22C or so), so that's obviously not an issue, but they offer discounts when school is not in session. My boys love it, so why not? Perhaps it will tire them out...

So why am I here?  I'm trying to make a big push and finish Earthquake and get going on Rarity. I need to work on the cover for earthquake and none of my ideas are going to look very good with my limited photoshop skills (yes, I make my own covers). So I'll be trying to brainstorm that. I want the lightning circle again, but I'm having a hard time integrating that with my earthquake pictures from photoshop. I'll work on it more once Earthquake goes to my beta readers.  And try not to cry when I get too frustrated.

I've heard a lot from family and friends this holiday season.  It's been humbling, for sure.  Family who I'd never considered telling about my writing have found out about it from other family members. And they've read my stuff.  We're talking baby boomers here.  I've received a lot of compliments from them, which is great.  And I like the advice (mostly). And rest assured for my stepdad's cousin, there will be fewer visits to the dressmaker for Lora in Rarity.  In fact, she may not get there at all! At least half the book will take place outside of Glimmen. And I will rectify the lack of page numbers in my paperbacks.  It's something I never noticed. I own my books in paperback, but I've never looked through them other than to see how the map of Ydris looked.  That's pronounced EE-driss, btw.

Anyway, enough tangents.  I need to keep a lookout for flying balls and write some more. I hope you all had a merry Christmas, happy chanukah, happy kwanzaa, or other holiday (or no holiday... just a great weekend), and I wish you the best for a safe, happy, and healthy 2018!!

Fear not!

Hello readers!

Thank you so much for your patience.  Rest assured, I am still here and working hard on Sara's adventure and will be continuing with Lora's as soon as I send Earthquake out to beta readers. I am editing the first 50,000 words of Earthquake right now. Don't even get me started on book covered. Photoshop is not easy for me, and Earthquake is going to be at the edge of (or beyond) my meager skills.

This fall.... I bit off way more than I could chew.  I didn't have time for anything! And since writing is my "hobby," it got pushed to the back burner. Here in AZ, winter is our busiest season in medicine because of all of our winter visitors (aka snowbirds). But my hours at the clinic don't change much, just the busy-ness of my days! I mean, I used to have time to write over lunch...  I have 2 weeks left in the semester at the university where I also teach. I'm behind grading for them too.  Fall sports are over-- did I mention my two boys were in five sports???? Never again! My husband was coaching every single one, so I usually needed to wrangle one kid while the other was playing whatever sport while also trying not to fall too far behind grading papers. I have had a doctor's or dentist's appointment every single Friday (my day off... ha!) since September began. I think I kinda gave up and buried my head in the sand a bit.  What does that mean for the future?

Well.... I'm trying to figure out how to organize to where I'll have time for everything.  I know I have disappointed some of my loyal fans by being 3+ months late with Earthquake and however late I will be with Rarity. As I said before, I appreciate your continued patience. I am only teaching one class this spring.  Nothing is changing at my clinic. I have no appointments other than getting my hair cut/colored and my eyebrows waxed for the foreseeable future. I refuse to not have time! Or be so overwhelmed and tired that I can't be bothered to "work" even on my fun job (er... hobby).

So that's it.  That's what's been going on.  Thanks for listening to me vent and whine. Excited for what I'm reading. Hopefully not too many big changes to be made and I can get more books out to you soon :)

I have enough room for one...

... maybe 2 secondary character point of view chapters left in Earthquake. I don't want to have too many. I've had 2 so far. They're characters that we know, but don't know super well.  They were not the same POV's as in the short story anthologies published prior to Wildfire. Secondary characters are basically anyone but Sara. We know her story. I hope.

Anyway.... does anyone have a preference as to whose POV I use? Any favorites? Yes? No? If I use your suggestion(s), I'll mention you in my acknowledgements... Hopefully it'll get me out of this darn writer's block!!!!!!!!!!!